According to the Met Office heavy and persistent rain is on the way so we have some tips for driving in rain and floods.
- Slow down! It takes longer to stop in wet weather.
- Try to avoid areas which are prone to flooding,
- Allow for slower speeds, delays and potential congestion so give yourself extra time.
- Leave more space between you and the car in front to account for greater stopping distances and particularly from large trucks or buses – the spray from their tyres can block your vision and make it extremely difficult to see.
- Turn your headlights on.
- Avoid using your brakes; if possible, take your foot off the accelerator to slow down.
- Keep a sharp lookout for pedestrians.
If you do encounter floods
- Drive on the highest section of the road and don’t set off if a vehicle is approaching you.
- Leave time and space to avoid swamping other cars and pedestrians.
- Drive slowly and keep going once you have started – make sure you have a clear run. In a manual car, keep the revs high by “slipping the clutch” (which means the clutch is not fully engaged) all the time you are in the water.
- If you can’t see where you are going to come out of the water, such as when approaching flooding on a bend, think twice about starting to drive into it.
- In deep water never take your foot off the accelerator, as this could allow water to travel up the exhaust pipe
- Once you’re out of the water, dry the brakes before you need them. The best way is to lightly apply the brake as you drive along for a few seconds, after checking nothing is following you too closely.
Geraldine Herbert
9th June, 2019
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